The founder and co-director of a digital film agency has been praised for his ‘outstanding’ work to secure the town centre’s future and support fellow businesses during COVID-19.

Clearhead’s Gavin O’Brien is chair of Luton Business Improvement District (BID) and has become the BID’s latest town centre Business Hero – a social media campaign which is running to recognise workers and business owners who go above and beyond.

Gavin has not only been volunteering his time to help the BID and partners steer and shape the town centre during the pandemic, he has been working tirelessly to advise and assist businesses to adapt, run free workshops, helped schools, colleges and universities on a number of virtual film projects, and supported local social enterprise, Wenta to create a high profile TV ad for Sky Media.

“My local roots have always been important to me and my fellow co-director, Alex. When coronavirus struck and our team moved to home working, we still wanted to keep giving back,” said Gavin.

“We started working in different ways – providing virtual campus tours to universities in place of their usual open days and virtual events for colleges across the country. One of our latest clients is a consortium of three universities where we are working with schools to encourage school pupils to go onto higher education. These are hugely important projects which I feel very passionate about supporting during this challenging period.”

In July Clearhead was also approached by Luton’s Wenta – a social enterprise which gives free of charge business support to small businesses based in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Enfield.

Wenta had been awarded a free TV campaign by Sky Media as part of a £1 million fund to support 100 businesses in the UK, and Gavin stepped in to help them create an eye-catching advert.

“Our work with Wenta was particularly close to our hearts since the organisation had actually helped us with a grant when we were first setting up Clearhead 12 years ago,” added Gavin.

“We developed a script and ended up filming at our own premises and recording the voiceover remotely due to lockdown restrictions.”

Fergus McLardy, Luton BID project manager said: “Gavin volunteered so much time pre-COVID to help and support the town centre community – attending strategic town centre meetings, investing in new offices in the Hat House, recruiting locally and supporting young people through education projects and work experience.

“He runs an internationally successful business, but his local efforts during COVID have been particularly outstanding. We are very lucky to have him chair our BID board and are very grateful for his continued commitment and dedication to the town centre as the pandemic continues.”

Members of the public can nominate friends, colleagues, or family members as a Luton BID town centre Business Heroes. Nominees must be employees or owners of BID levy paying businesses, and can be put forward HERE.

October 13th, 2020Press Releases

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